Derby boss Nigel Clough has confirmed he is in the market for a keeper with Stephen Bywater sidelined.
Rams boss keen to land goalkeeper on loan
Derby County boss Nigel Clough has confirmed he is in the market for a goalkeeper with Stephen Bywater sidelined for the best part of a month.
Bywater fractured his wrist in training last week and Saul Deeney is currently in line to start when the Rams resume Championship action against Preston this weekend.
The 29-year-old keeper has been an ever-present for Derby this year, but it has now been confirmed that the former West Ham shot-stopper is facing a spell out.
Clough has the option of recalling Ross Atkins from Tamworth, although he is exploring the chance to bring in back-up on loan from elsewhere.
"We are certainly going to try to bring someone in on loan, whether that is to play instead of Saul or sit on the bench," he told the club's
official website.
"If we have to bring Ross Atkins back from his loan spell at Tamworth and play Saul, we will do that but we have got one or two enquiries in at the moment and we are hoping to get one of them.
"We will know more in the next two weeks but we will go for a 28-day loan initially and then take it from there. We have got a very competent number two in Saul if it comes to that but I think we still need a bit of cover."
Innocuous
Clough is stunned Bywater sustained injury in the first place, stating he simply felt something in his wrist while attempting to regain his feet, but hopes to have him back within four weeks, rather than the worst-case scenario of three months.
"It's just one of those freakish things that can happen in training," he continued. "It was very innocuous.
"It wasn't even a save, he was just getting up off the floor and felt something in his wrist. He went off immediately.
"We've had it scanned and there's a small fracture in there. But it's the best possible news for that sort of injury.
"It could keep you out for up to three months but we're hoping to have him back in four weeks."
